Santa Maria Police Arrest Suspect in Connection with June 2nd Shooting

Case #: SMPD24-0008088
The Santa Maria Police Department has arrested David Garcia Ochoa, a 28-year-old resident of San Luis Obispo, in connection with an attempted murder that occurred in the early hours of Sunday, June 2, 2024.

On June 2, 2024, at approximately 7:30 AM, officers responded to reports of a person down in a commercial parking lot on the 1700 block of S. Broadway in Santa Maria. Upon arrival, officers discovered a 28-year-old male victim, believed to be transient, had been shot multiple times while walking through the parking lot at about 3:00 AM. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he is currently receiving treatment.

Detectives from the Santa Maria Police Department quickly took over the investigation and identified David Garcia Ochoa as the primary suspect. Ochoa, who was working in the capacity as an unarmed private security guard responsible for the security of construction equipment and supplies near the crime scene, was illegally carrying a loaded firearm at the job site prior to the shooting. Ochoa never notified law enforcement of the shooting and left the scene immediatelty after.

An arrest warrant for attempted murder and a search warrant for Ochoa’s residence were obtained.

On Monday, June 3, 2024, at about 2:00 AM, SMPD Detectives, with the assistance of the SMPD SWAT Team and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Bureau, executed the warrants at Ochoa’s residence in the 200 block of Avila Beach Drive in San Luis Obispo. Ochoa was taken into custody without incident, and evidence connected to the investigation was recovered from his residence.

David Garcia Ochoa has been booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of attempted murder and is being held on $1 million bail. Investigators believe Ochoa may be connected to other crimes where a firearm was discharged and are working diligently on further investigative efforts.

Anyone with information related to this investigation or other crimes possibly involving Ochoa and the discharge of a firearm is urged to contact Detective Erik Hesch at (805) 928-3781 ext. 1349 or Detective Neil Patel at ext. 1680.